LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME, AND LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE PACKAGE

Abstract

A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device comprises an active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers. The bather layers comprise a first barrier layer having a first band gap which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a second barrier layer adjacent to the first barrier, and a third barrier layer between the second bather layer and the first conductive type semiconductor layer. The well layers comprise a first well layer having a third band gap different from the first band gap between the first and second bather layers, and a second well layer between the second barrier layer and the third barrier layer, the second well layer having a second band gap. The first well layer has a thickness thinner than that of the second well layer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0068586 filed on Jul. 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments relate to a light emitting device, a method for fabricating the same, and a light emitting device package.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are light emitting devices that convert an electric current into light. In recent, as the brightness of LEDs is gradually improved, the LEDs are being widely used for light sources of display devices, automobiles, and lightings.

A high-power light emitting chip which generates short wavelength light such as blue light or green light to realize full color has been developed in recent years. Thus, a phosphor which absorbs a portion of light emitted from a light emitting chip to emit light having a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light may be coated on the light emitting chip to combine LEDs having various colors with each other and also to realize an LED emitting white light.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a light emitting device including an active layer having a new structure.

Embodiments provide a light emitting device in which a well layer which is the nearest to a second conductive type semiconductor layer has a relatively thin thickness to improve a recombination energy level.

Embodiments provide a light emitting device in which a well layer which is the nearest to a second conductive type semiconductor layer has a band gap wider than that of the other well layer to improve a recombination energy level.

Embodiments provide a light emitting device in which a first well layer of first and second well layers which is the nearest to a second conductive type semiconductor layer has a band gap wider than that of the second well layer and a barrier disposed between the first and second well layers is adjusted in thickness.

Embodiments provide a light emitting device in which a first well layer of first and second well layers which is the nearest to a second conductive type semiconductor layer and a barrier layer disposed between the first and second well layers have relatively thin thicknesses, respectively.

In one embodiment, a light emitting device comprises: a first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer; and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers, wherein the plurality of barrier layers comprise: a first barrier layer which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the first barrier layer having a first band gap; a second barrier layer adjacent to the first barrier; and at least one third barrier layer between the second barrier layer and the first conductive type semiconductor layer, the plurality of well layers comprise: a first well layer between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, the first well layer having a third band gap; and a second well layer between the second barrier layer and the at least one third barrier layer, the second well layer having a second band gap, the first well layer has a thickness thinner than that of the second well layer; and the third band gap is different from the first band gap.

In another embodiment, a light emitting device comprises: a first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive type semiconductor layer; and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers, wherein each of the plurality of barrier layers has a first band gap, the plurality of well layers comprises: a first well layer which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the first well layer having a third band gap; and a plurality of well layers adjacent to the first conductive type semiconductor layer than the first well layer, the plurality of well each having a second band gap, the first well layer has a thickness thinner than that of the second well layer, and the third band gap is disposed between the first band gap and the second band gap.

In further another embodiment, a light emitting device comprises: a first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive type semiconductor layer; and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers, wherein each of the plurality of barrier layers has a first band gap, the plurality of well layers comprises: a first well layer having a third band gap; and anyone second well layer having a third band gap narrower than the first band gap and wider than the second band gap, and the anyone second well layer is disposed more close to the second conductive type semiconductor layer.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a light emitting device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of an energy recombination level in the active layer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating another example of the light emitting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating another example of the light emitting device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a view of a light emitting device package including the light emitting device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of a display apparatus with the light emitting device;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view illustrating another example of a display apparatus with the light emitting device package; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a lighting unit with the light emitting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a light emitting device and a method for fabricating the same according to embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of embodiments, it will be understood that when a layer (or film), region, pattern or structure is referred to as being ‘on’ or ‘under’ another layer (or film), region, pattern or structure, the terminology of ‘on’ and ‘under’ includes both the meanings of ‘directly’ and ‘indirectly’. Further, the reference about ‘on/over’ and ‘under’ each layer will be made on the basis of drawings. In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience in description and clarity. Also, the size of each element does not entirely reflect an actual size.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a light emitting device according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a light emitting device 100 may includes a substrate 111, a buffer layer 113, a low conductive layer 115, a first conductive type semiconductor layer 117, an active layer 119, a second clad layer 121, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer 123.

The material of the substrate 111 may includes a semiconductor material, a metal material, a composite material, or the combination of. The substrate 111 may include a transmissive, insulating, or conductive substrate. For example, the substrate 111 may be formed of at least one of sapphire (Al₂O₃), SiC, Si, GaAs, GaN, ZnO, Si, GaP, InP, Ge, Ga₂O₃, and LiGaO₃. A plurality of protrusions 112 may be disposed on a top surface of the substrate 111. The plurality of protrusions 112 may be manufactured by etching the substrate 111. Alternatively, the plurality of protrusions 112 may have a light extraction structure formed of a separate material such as a roughness. Each of the protrusions 112 may have a stripe shape, a hemisphere shape, or a dome shape. The substrate 111 may have a thickness of about 30 μm to about 150 μm, but is not limited thereto. The substrate 111 may be removed, but is not limited thereto.

A plurality of compound semiconductor layers may be grown on the substrate 111. Equipment for growing the plurality of compound semiconductor layers on the substrate 111 may include an electron beam evaporator, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) device, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) device, a plasma laser deposition (PLD) device, a dual-type thermal evaporator, a sputtering device, a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) device, and the like, but is not limed thereto.

The buffer layer 113 may be disposed on the substrate 111. The buffer layer 113 may be formed as at least one layer using a group II to VI compound semiconductor. The buffer layer 113 may be formed of a semiconductor layer using a group III-V compound semiconductor. For example, the buffer layer 113 may include a nitride semiconductor layer having a compositional formula of In_xAl_yGa_1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1). For example, the buffer layer 113 may be formed of at least one of compound semiconductors such as GaN, InN, AlN, InGaN, AlGaN, InAlGaN, and AlInN. The buffer layer 113 may have a super lattice structure in which semiconductor layers different from each other are alternately disposed.

The buffer layer 113 may reduce a lattice constant difference between the substrate 111 and a nitride-based semiconductor layer. Also, the buffer layer 113 may be defined as a defect control layer. The buffer layer 113 may have a value corresponding to a lattice constant difference between a lattice constant of the substrate 111 and a lattice constant of the nitride-base semiconductor layer. For example, the buffer layer 113 may be formed of an oxide such as ZnO. The buffer layer 113 may have a thickness of about 30 nm to about 500 nm, but is not limited thereto. The buffer layer 113 may be omitted.

The low conductive layer 115 is disposed on the buffer layer 113. Also, the low conductive layer 115 may be formed of a material having conductivity lower than that of the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117. For example, the low conductive layer 115 may be formed of a GaN-based semiconductor using a group III-V compound semiconductor. Here, the low conductive layer 115 may be realized as an undoped semiconductor layer. The undoped semiconductor layer may have a first conductive type property even though the undoped semiconductor layer is not doped with a conductive dopant. The undoped semiconductor layer may be omitted, but is not limited thereto. The low conductor layer 115 may be disposed between the plurality of first conductive type semiconductor layers 117.

The first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be disposed on the low conductive layer 115. The first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be formed of a semiconductor compound. For example, the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be formed of a group III-V or II-VI compound semiconductor. Also, the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be doped with the first conductive dopant. For example, the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be formed of a semiconductor material having a compositional formula of In_xAl_yGa_1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1). The first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be doped with the first conductive dopant. When the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 is an n-type semiconductor layer, the first conductive dopant may include Si, Ge, Sn, Se, or Te as an n-type dopant.

A super lattice structure in which first and second semiconductor layers different from each other are alternately disposed may be disposed on at least one layer of the low conductive layer 115 and the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117. Each of the first and second semiconductor layers 117 and 123 may have a thickness of about several □ or more.

The first clad layer (not shown) may be disposed between the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 and the active layer 119. The first clad layer may be formed of a GaN-based semiconductor. The first clad layer may restrict carriers. For another example, the first clad layer may include an InGaN layer or an InGaN/GaN super lattice structure, but is not limited thereto. The first clad layer may be doped with an n-type and/or p-type dopant. For example, the first clad layer may be realized as a first conductive type or low conductive semiconductor layer.

The active layer 119 may be formed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117. The active layer 119 may have at least one of a single well structure, a single quantum well structure, a multi well structure, a multi quantum well (MQW) structure, a quantum wire structure, and a quantum dot structure. The active layer 119 may include a well layer 131 and a barrier layer 133 which are alternately disposed. The well layer 131 may be a well layer having a continuous energy level. Also, the well layer 131 may be a quantum well having a quantized energy level. The well layer 131 may be defined as a quantum well layer, and the barrier layer 133 may be defined as a quantum barrier layer. A pair of well layer 131 and barrier layer 133 may be formed at about 2 periods to about 30 periods. For example, the wall layer 131 may be formed of a semiconductor material having a compositional formula of In_xAl_yGa_1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1). The barrier layer 133 may be a semiconductor layer having a band gap wider than that of the well layer 131. For example, the barrier layer 133 may be formed of a semiconductor material having a compositional formula of In_xAl_yGa_1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1). For example, the pair of well layer 131 and barrier layer 133 may be formed of at least one of InGaN/GaN, GaN/AlGaN, InGaN/AlGaN, InGaN/InGaN, and InAlGaN/InAlGaN.

The well layer 131 may have a thickness of about 1.5 nm to about 5 nm. For example, the wall layer 131 may have a thickness of about 2 nm to about 4 nm. The barrier layer 133 may have a thickness thicker than that of the well layer 131. For example, the barrier layer may have a thickness of about 5 nm to about 7 nm. Also, the second barrier layer 133 may be doped with the n-type dopant, but is not limited thereto.

The active layer 119 may selectively emit light within a range between an ultraviolet band and a visible light band. For example, the active layer 119 may emit light having a peak wavelength of about 420 nm to about 450 nm.

The second clad layer is disposed on the active layer 119. The second clad layer 121 may have a band gap wider than that of the barrier layer 133. The second clad layer 121 may be formed of a group III-V compound semiconductor, for example, a GaN-base semiconductor. For example, the second clad layer 121 may be formed of GaN, AlGaN, or InAlGaN, or may have a super lattice structure. The second clad layer 121 may be doped with an n-type and/or p-type dopant. For example, the second clad layer 121 may be realized as a second conductive type or low conductive semiconductor layer.

The second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 is disposed on the second clad layer 121. The second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be formed of a semiconductor compound. For example, the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be formed of a group III-V or II-VI compound semiconductor. Also, the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be doped with the first conductive dopant. For example, the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be formed of a semiconductor material having a compositional formula of In_xAl_yGa_1-x-yN (0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y−1). For example, the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be formed of one of compound semiconductors such as GaN, InN, AlN, InGaN, AlGaN, InAlGaN, and AlInN. The second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be doped with the second conductive dopant. When the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 is a P type semiconductor layer, the second conductive type dopant may include Mg, Zn, Ca, Sr, or Ba as a P type dopant.

The conductive types of the layers of a light emitting structure 150 may be reversely provided. For example, each of the second conductive type semiconductor layers 121 and 123 may be realized as the n-type semiconductor layer, and the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be realized as the p-type semiconductor layer. Also, an n-type semiconductor layer that is a third conductive type semiconductor layer having a polarity opposite to that of the second conductive type semiconductor layer may be further disposed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123. In the semiconductor light emitting device 100, the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117, the active layer 119, and the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be defined as the light emitting structure 150. The light emitting structure 150 may have at least one structure of an n-p junction structure, a p-n junction structure, an n-p-n junction structure, a p-n-p junction structure. An active layer may be disposed between two layers having the n-p or p-n junction structure. Also, at least one active layer may be disposed between three layers having the n-p-n or p-n-p junction structure.

The compound semiconductor layers 113 to 123 may be grown on the substrate 111 using following growth equipment. For example, the growth equipment may include the electron beam evaporator, the physical vapor deposition (PVD) device, the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) device, the plasma laser deposition (PLD) device, the dual-type thermal evaporator, a sputtering device, the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) device, and the like, but is not limed thereto.

In a growth method of the active layer 119, for example, NH₃, TMGa (or TEGa), TMIn, TMAl may be selectively supplied as sources using H₂ or/and N₂ as a carrier gas under a predetermined growth temperature (e.g., about 700□ to about 950□) to form the well layer 131 formed of GaN or InGaN and the barrier layer 133 formed of GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, or InAlGaN. The growth temperature may be increased while the last quantum well structure is grown to grow the second clad layer 121. Here, when the growth temperature is increased, thin film prosperities of the last quantum well structure may be improved.

In the active layer 119 according to the current embodiment, the plurality of well layers 131 and the plurality of barrier layers 133 are alternately stacked. Each of the plurality of well layers 131 has an In composition ratio of about 10% to about 13%. When light emitted from the active layer 119 has a peak wavelength of about 450 nm, the well layer 131 may have a band gap of about 2.75 eV. Also, when the light emitted from the active layer 119 has a peak wavelength of about 420 nm, the well layer 131 may have a band gap of about 2.95 eV. The well layer 131 may emit light having a predetermined peak wavelength within a range from an ultraviolet band to a visible light band. The well layer 131 may have a band gap changed according to the peak wavelength.

The barrier layer 133 may be formed of a nitride semiconductor having a band gap wider than that of the well layer 131.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, two quantum well structures which are the nearest to the second clad layer 121 or the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be defined as a first pair structure including the first barrier layer B1 and the first well layer W1 and a second pair structure including the second barrier layer B2 and the second well layer W2 which are adjacent to the first pair structure. The first barrier layer B1 is disposed between the second clad layer 121 and the first well layer W1, and the second barrier layer B2 is disposed between the first wall layer W1 and the second well layer W2. The second wall layer W2 is disposed more close to the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 than the first well layer W1. Also, the second barrier layer B2 is disposed more close to the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 than the first barrier layer B1.

The first well layer W1 of the plurality of well layers 131 which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 may be doped with the p-type dopant having a relatively large particle size. Thus, the first well layer W1 may be deteriorated in crystalline quality. Thus, the second well layer W2 may have a crystalline superior than that of the first well layer W1. However, in the current embodiment, carriers may be moved into the second wall layer W2 more close to the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 than the first well layer W1 to improve injection efficiency of the carrier into the second well layer W2 and recombination of the carrier. Here, the carriers may be holes. The holes may have an injection length and mobility less by several times to several hundred times than those of electrons. Thus, the amount of holes may be significantly reduced and also recombination of the holes efficiency may be reduced in a specific region. In the current embodiment, the injection efficiency of the holes into the second well layer W2 may be increased by the second barrier layer B2, and the recombination of the holes within the second wall layer W2 may be improved.

For example, the two well layers W1 and W2 adjacent to the second clad layer 121 may serve as main light emitting layers. That is, the two well layers W1 and W2 may emit light of about 80% or more of light emitted from the multi quantum well structure. In the current embodiment, the first well layer W1 disposed between the first and second barrier layers B1 and B2 may be improved in structure to further move the holes injected from the second clad layer 121 into the second well layer W2. Therefore, the recombination of the holes within the second well layer W2 may be increased.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of the active layer of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a vertical axis represents an absolute size (eV) of an energy band gap, and a horizontal axis represents a growth direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the well layer 131 and the barrier layer 133 are alternately disposed within the active layer 119. The barrier layer 133 includes a first barrier layer B1 and a second barrier layer B2 which are disposed in order adjacent to the second clad layer 121. The first well layer W1 is disposed between the first barrier layer B1 and the second barrier layer B2.

The pair structure of the first barrier layer B1 and the first well layer W1 may be equal to or different from that of the second barrier layer B2 and the second well layer W2. For example, the first well layer W1 may be formed of InGaN or GaN, and the second well layer W2 may be formed of the same semiconductor as that of the first well layer W1 of the InGaN or GaN.

Also, the first well layer W1 is disposed more close to the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 than the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 or the first well layer W1 is disposed more close to a central portion of the active layer 119 than the first barrier layer B1 to improve the recombination of the holes within the second well layer W2.

For another example, when the second well layer W2 is an InGaN-based semiconductor, the first well layer W1 may include the InGaN-based semiconductor. Also, the first well layer W1 may have an In content less than that of the second well layer W2. The second well layer W2 may have an In composition ratio of about 10% to about 13%. The first well layer W1 may have an In composition ratio of about 7% to about 8% or be formed of a semiconductor having a compositional formula of In_xGa_1-xN (0.07<x<0.08).

Also, the first well layer W1 may have an In content less by about 5% than that of the other well layer 131 except the first well layer W1 or greater than about 45% of that of the other well layer 131 except the first well layer W1.

Also, the first well layer W1 may have a third band gap G3 narrower than a first band gap G1 of the barrier layer 133 and wider than a second band gap G2 of other well layers 131 and W2. The first well layer W1 may have the third band gap G3 ranging of 2.75 eV<G3<3.42 eV. Here, the first band gap G1 may be about 3.42 eV, and the second band gap G2 may be about 2.75 eV. However, the values may be changed according to a peak wavelength thereof.

The first band gap G1 of each of the first and second barrier layers B1 and B2 may be equal to that of the other barrier layer 131. The second band gap G1 of the second well layer W2 may be equal to that of the other well layer 131.

Also, the first well layer W1 may be disposed at a position more close to the second clad layer 121 than the second well layer W2 and disposed between the first and second barrier layers B1 and B2 adjacent to the second clad layer 121. The carriers injected from the second clad layer 121 i.e., holes may be further induced into the second well layer W2 adjacent to the first well layer W1. The first well layer W1 may be defined as a hole guide well layer. Also, the second clad layer 121 is formed at a relatively low temperature when compared to that of the active layer 119. Thus, the crystalline of the first well layer W1 may be deteriorated by a change of the temperature. That is, since the crystalline of the second well layer W2 is relatively superior to that of the first well layer W1, the recombination within the second well layer W2 may be increased to improve intensity of light emitted from the light emitting device 100 may be improved.

The first well layer W1 may have a thickness T1 thinner than that T1 of the second well layer W2. Thus, a minimum value of a recombination energy level in the first well layer W1 may be increased. The well layers 131 and W2 except the first well layer W1 may have the same thickness as that T1 of the second well layer W2.

As the minimum value of the recombination energy level of the first well layer W1 is increased, the second barrier layer B2 adjacent to the first well layer W1 may have a relatively low height. As a result, the height of the second barrier layer B2 may be decreased to reduce the restriction of the carrier into the first well layer W1. Thus, the hole injection efficiency may be increased in the second well layer W2 to improve the hole recombination. Therefore, light having a short wavelength is not nearly emitted from the first well layer W1 to prevent a width of a spectrum from being increased. In the current embodiment, a more amount of light may be emitted from the second well layer W2.

The first well layer W1 may have a thickness T3 thinner than that T1 of each of other well layers W2 and 131. For example, the first well layer W1 may have a thickness of about 1 nm to about 2 nm or a thickness thinner than about 50% of that T1 of each of other well layers W2 and 131. Each of the well layers W2 and 131 may have a thickness T1 of about 3 nm to about 3.2 nm. The first well layer W1 may have a thickness T3 thinner by about 1.2 nm to about 2 nm than that T1 of the second well layer W2. A thickness difference between the second well layer W2 and the second barrier layer B2 may be below about 5 nm, for example, ranges from about 2 nm to about 3 nm. The holes injected into the first well layer W1 may easily escape and be easily injected into the second well layer W2 due to the thickness T3 of the first well layer W1. Thus, the thickness T3 of the first well layer W1 may be a critical value for improving the intensity of light emitted from the second well layer W2. The plurality of barrier layers 133 may have the same thickness.

For another example, when the first well layer W1 is an AlGaN-based semiconductor, the second wall layer W2 may include an AlGaN-based semiconductor layer which has an Al content t less than that of the first well layer W1.

The second well layer W1 may have a depth D1 lower than that D2 of the second well layer W2. For example, the second well layer W1 may have a depth D1 corresponding to about 70% or more of that D2 of the second well layer W2.

FIG. 3 is a view of an energy recombination level in the energy band diagram of the active layer of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the thickness T3 of the first well layer W1 is equal to that T1 of the other well layer W2, the recombination energy level may be increased to an H4 as a minimum value less than a minimum value H2 of a reference recombination energy level. Similarly, when the thickness T3 of the first well layer W1 is increased (T3<T1), the minimum value of the recombination energy level may be increased to an H3. Since the minimum value of the recombination energy level may be increased by adjusting the thickness T3 and the band gap G3 of the first well layer W1, the holes injected into the first well layer W1 may escape by geometric progression and be moved into the second well layer W2, thereby allow the holes and electrons to be recombined with each other. Therefore, recombination within the first well layer W1 may not occur nearly.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a second embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the well layer 131 and the barrier layer 133 are alternately disposed within the active layer 119. In the barrier layer 133, a first barrier layer B21 and a second barrier layer B22 are disposed in order adjacent to the second clad layer 121, i.e., are successively disposed. Also, a first well layer W21 is disposed between the first barrier layer B21 and the second barrier layer B22. Also, a second well layer W22 more close to the second well layer W22 than the first well layer W21 is disposed between the first barrier layer B22 and the second barrier layer B22.

The pair structure of the first barrier layer B21 and the first well layer W21 may be equal to or different from that of the second barrier layer B22 and the second well layer W22.

The second barrier layer B22 may have a thickness T5 thinner than that T2 of each of other barrier layers 133 and B21. For example, when the second barrier layer B22 has a thickness T2 of about 5 nm to about 7 nm, each of other barrier layers 133 and B21 may have a thickness T5 of about 3 nm to about 4 nm. The second barrier layer B22 may have a thickness T5 different from that T2 of the second well layer W22. For example, the second barrier layer B22 may have a thickness T5 thicker or thinner than that T2 of the second well layer W22. A thickness difference between the second barrier layer B22 and the second well layer W22 may be below about 1 nm. Here, the thickness T5 of the second barrier layer B22 may be a critical value at which tunneling does not occur. Thus, the holes escaping from the first well layer W21 may reduce losses by heat or non-light emitting combination while passing through the second barrier layer B22 to improve optical output by the second well layer W22. Also, since the second barrier layer B22 has the thin thickness T5, a resistance of the second barrier layer B22 may be reduced when compared to that of the first barrier layer B21.

Since the first well layer W21 has the same thickness T3 and band gap G3 as those of the first embodiment, their detailed descriptions refer to those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a third embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the well layer 131 and the barrier layer 133 are alternately disposed within the active layer 119. The barrier layer 133 includes a first barrier layer B31 and a second barrier layer B32 which are disposed in order adjacent to the second clad layer 121. A first well layer W31 is disposed between the first barrier layer B31 and the second barrier layer B32.

The first well layer W31 has a thickness T8 of about 1 nm to about 2 nm. Also, the first well layer W31 may have a thickness thinner than that T1 of each of other well layers E32 and 131. The first well layer W31 may have the same bang gap as that of the other well layer 131. Thus, a minimum value of a recombination energy level of the first well layer W31 may be an H7 and less than an H2 that is a reference value. Since the recombination energy level is increased, movement of holes into the second well layer W32 may be increased to increase the recombination within the second well layer W32.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an energy band of an active layer according to a fourth embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the well layer 131 and the barrier layer 133 are alternately disposed within the active layer 119. The barrier layer 133 includes a first barrier layer B41 and a second barrier layer B42 which are disposed in order adjacent to the second clad layer 121. A first well layer W41 is disposed between the first barrier layer B41 and the second barrier layer B42.

The first well layer W41 may have a thickness T9 thinner than that T1 of each of other well layers W42 and 131. For example, the first well layer W41 may have a thickness T9 of about 1 nm to about 2 nm, i.e., a thickness T9 corresponding to a range of about 30% to about 60% of that T1 of each of other well layers W42 and 131.

The second barrier layer B42 may have a thickness T6 thinner than that T2 of each of other barrier layers B41 and 133. For example, the second barrier layer B42 may have a thickness T6 of about 3 nm to about 4 nm, i.e., a thickness T6 corresponding to a range of about 30% to about 60% of that T2 of each of other barrier layers B41 and 133. Here, each of other barrier layers B41 and 133 may have a thickness T2 ranging from about 5 nm to about 7 nm, for example, a thickness T2 of about 6 nm.

Since the first well layer W41 has a relatively thin thickness T9 and the second barrier layer B42 has a thickness T6 thinner than that T2 of each of other barrier layers B41 and 133, a minimum value of a recombination energy level may be an H7, i.e., greater than an H2. Thus, the holes injected from the second clad layer 121 may be further injected into the second well layer W42 through the first well layer W41. Therefore, the recombination of the holes within the second well layer W42 may be increased to increase the whole intensity of light and inner quantum efficiency.

Here, the second barrier layer B42 may be formed of AlGaN or GaN. Thus, the GaN barrier layer may have a thickness thinner than that of the AlGaN barrier layer. The thickness T6 of the second barrier layer B42 may be a critical value at which tunneling does not occur.

For modified examples of the first to fourth embodiments, the second barrier layer may have a band gap narrower than that of the other barrier layer 133. For another example, the second barrier layer may be doped with an n-type dopant, and the other barrier layer may include an undoped semiconductor layer.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating another example of the light emitting device of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a light emitting device 101, an electrode layer 141 and a second electrode 145 are disposed on a light emitting structure 150. Also, a first electrode 143 is disposed on a first conductive type semiconductor layer 117.

The electrode layer 141 may serve as a current spreading layer. The electrode layer 141 may be formed of a material having transmitting and conductive properties. The electrode layer 141 may have a reflective index less than that of a compound semiconductor layer.

The electrode layer 141 is disposed on a top surface of a second conductive type semiconductor layer 123. The electrode layer 141 may include a transmitting conductive layer or a metal oxide layer. For example, the electrode layer 141 may be formed of one of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), indium aluminum zinc oxide (IAZO), indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), indium gallium tin oxide (IGTO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), gallium zinc oxide (GZO), ZnO, IrO_x, RuO_x and NiO. Here, the electrode layer 141 may be formed as at least one layer. The electrode layer 141 may include a reflective electrode layer. For example, the electrode layer 141 may be formed of one of Al, Ag, Pd, Rh, Pt, Ir and an alloy of two or more thereof.

The second electrode 145 may be disposed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 and/or the electrode layer 141. Also, the second electrode 145 may include an electrode pad. For example, the second electrode 145 may further include a current spreading pattern having an arm structure or a finger structure. The second electrode 145 may be formed of a metal having properties serving as an ohmic-contact layer, an adhesion layer, and a bonding layer and have a non-transmitting property, but are not limited thereto.

The first electrode 143 is disposed on a portion of the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117. For example, each of the first electrode 143 and the second electrode 145 may be formed of one of Ti, Ru, Rh, Ir, Mg, Zn, Al, In, Ta, Pd, Co, Ni, Si, Ge, Ag, Au, and alloys thereof.

An insulation layer may be further disposed on the light emitting device 101. The insulation layer may prevent the layers of the light emitting structure 145 from being short-circuited with each other and prevent moisture from being permeated.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating another example of the light emitting device of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 8, a current blocking layer 161, a channel layer 163, and a second electrode 170 are disposed under a light emitting structure 150. For example, the current blocking layer 161 may be formed of at least one of SiO₂, SiO_x, SiO_xN_y, Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂. At least one current blocking layer 161 may be disposed between the channel layers 163. The current blocking layer 161 may be formed of a metal having a schottky contact resistance.

The current blocking layer 161 may be disposed to correspond to the first electrode 181 disposed on the light emitting structure 150 in a thickness direction of the light emitting structure 150. The current blocking layer 161 may intercept a current supplied from the second electrode 170 to spread the current into the other path.

Each of the channel layers 163 may be disposed along an edge of a bottom surface of the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123. The channel layer 163 may have a ring shape, a roof shape, a loop shape, or a frame shape. The channel layer 163 may include at least one of a transmitting layer, an insulation layer, and a metal oxide layer. For example, the channel layer 163 may be formed of at least one of ITO, IZO, IZTO, IAZO, IGZO, IGTO, AZO, ATO, SiO₂, SiO_x, SiO_xN_y, Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, TiO₂. An inner part of the channel layer 163 is disposed under the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 to contact the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123, and an outer part of the channel layer 163 is disposed outside a side surface of the light emitting structure 150. The channel layer 163 may be used as a protection layer for protecting the side surface of the light emitting structure 150 from the second electrode 170.

The second electrode 170 may be disposed under the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123. The second electrode 170 may include a plurality of conductive layers 165, 167, and 169.

The second electrode 170 includes an ohmic contact layer 165, a reflective layer 167, and a bonding layer 169. For example, the ohmic contact layer 165 may be formed of a low conductive material such as ITO, IZO, IZTO, IAZO, IGZO, IGTO, AZO, and ATO or a metal such as Ni and Ag. The reflective layer 167 is disposed under the ohmic contact layer 165. For example, the reflective layer 167 may have a structure including at least one layer formed of Ag, Ni, Al, Rh, Pd, Ir, Ru, Mg, Zn, Pt, Au, Hf and combinations thereof. The reflective layer 167 may contact a lower portion of the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123. The reflective layer 167 may ohmic-contact the second conductive type semiconductor layer 123 using a metal or a low conductive material such as ITO, but is not limited thereto.

The bonding layer 169 is disposed under the reflective layer 167. The bonding layer 169 may be used as a barrier metal or a bonding metal. For example, the bonding layer 169 may be formed of at least one of Ti, Au, Sn, Ni, Cr, Ga, In, Bi, Cu, Ag, Ta, and alloys thereof.

A support member 173 may be disposed under the bonding layer 169. The support member 173 may include a conductive member. For example, the support member 174 may be formed of a conductive material such as copper (Cu), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), copper-tungsten (Cu—W), and carrier wafers (e.g., Si, Ge, GaAs, ZnO, Sic, etc). For another example, the support member 173 may be realized as a conductive sheet.

Here, the substrate of FIG. 1 may be removed. A method for removing the growth substrate may include a physical method (e.g., laser lift off) or/and a chemical method (e.g., wet-etching). Thus, the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117 may be exposed. An isolation etching process may be performed in a direction in which the substrate is removed to form the first electrode 181 on the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117.

A light extraction structure 117A such as a roughness may be disposed on a top surface of the first conductive type semiconductor layer 117. Thus, the light emitting device 102 having a vertical type electrode structure in which the first electrode 181 is disposed on the light emitting structure 150 and the support member 173 is disposed under the light emitting structure 150 may be manufactured.

FIG. 9 is a view of a light emitting device package including the light emitting device of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 9, a light emitting device package 200 includes a body 210, first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 each having at least one portion disposed on the body 210, a light emitting device 101 electrically connected to first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 on the body 210, and a molding member 220 surrounding the light emitting device 101 on the body 210.

For example, the body 210 may be formed of a silicon material, a synthetic resin material, or a metal material. The body 210 includes a reflective part 215 having an upwardly opened cavity.

The first lead electrode 211 and the second lead electrode 212 may be electrically separated from each other and pass through the body 210. That is, a portion of each of the first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 may be disposed within the cavity, and the other portion may be disposed outside the body 210.

The first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 may supply a power into the light emitting device 101. Also, the first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 may reflect light emitted from the light emitting device 101 to increase light efficiency. In addition, the first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212 may release heat generated in the light emitting device 101 to the outside.

The light emitting device 101 may be disposed on the body 210 or disposed on the first lead electrode 211 and/or the second lead electrode 212.

A wire 216 of the light emitting device 101 may be electrically connected to one of the first and second lead electrodes 211 and 212, but is not limited thereto.

The molding member 220 may be formed of a resin material such ad silicon or epoxy. The molding member 220 may surround the light emitting device 101 to protect the light emitting device 101. Also, the molding member 220 may include a phosphor to vary a wavelength of light emitted form the light emitting device 101 using the phosphor.

A lens may be disposed on the molding member 220, but is not limited thereto.

The light emitting device or the light emitting device package according to an embodiment may be applied to a light unit. The light unit may have a structure in which a plurality of light emitting devices or a plurality of light emitting device packages are arrayed. The light unit may include illumination lamps, traffic lights, vehicle headlights, and signs.

<Lighting System>

The lighting system may include a display apparatus shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a light unit shown in FIG. 12, in addition to a lighting lamp, a signal light, a vehicle headlight, an electronic display, etc.

FIG. 10 is a disassembled perspective view of a display apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the display apparatus 1000 according to the embodiment may include a light guide plate 1041, a light emitting module 1031 supplying light to the light guide plate 1041, a reflective member 1022 under the light guide plate 1041, an optical sheet 1051 on the light guide plate 1041, a display panel 1061 on the optical sheet 1051, and a bottom cover 1011 receiving the light guide plate 1041, the light emitting module 1031, and the reflective member 1022, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The bottom cover 1011, the reflective member 1022, the light guide plate 1041, and the optical sheet 1051 may be defined as a light unit 1050.

The light guide plate 1041 functions to transform linear light to planar light by diffusing the linear light. The light guide plate 1041 may be made of a transparent material, and may include one of acryl-series resin such as polymethyl metaacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthlate (PET), poly carbonate (PC), COC, and polyethylene naphthalate resin.

The light emitting module 1031 provides light to at least a side surface of the light guide plate 1041, and finally acts as a light source of a display apparatus.

The light emitting module 1031 may include at least one light emitting module in the bottom cover 1011, and provide light directly or indirectly from one side surface of the light guide plate 1041. The light emitting module 1031 may include a board 1033, and a light emitting device package 200 according to embodiments disclosed above, and the light emitting device packages 200 may be arranged apart by a predetermined interval from each other on the board 1033.

The board 1033 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) including a circuit pattern (not shown). The board 1033 may include a metal core PCB (MCPCB), a flexible PCB (FPCB), etc. as well as the general PCB, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the case where the light emitting device package 200 is mounted on a side surface or a radiant heat plate, the board 1033 may be removed. Herein, some of the radiant heat plate may contact an upper surface of the bottom cover 1011.

The plurality of light emitting device packages 200 may be mounted on the board 1033 such that light emitting surfaces of the plurality of light emitting device packages 200 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the light guide plate 1041, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The light emitting device package 200 may supply light to a light incident part that is one side surface of the light guide plate 1041, directly or indirectly, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The reflective member 1022 may be provided under the light guide plate 1041. The reflective member 1022 reflects light incident from a lower surface of the light guide plate 1041 to allow the reflected light to be directed toward an upper direction, thereby capable of enhancing brightness of the light unit 1050. The reflective member 1022 may be formed of, for example, PET, PC, PVC resin, or the like, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The bottom cover 1011 may receive the light guide plate 1041, the light emitting module 1031, the reflective member 1022, and the like. For this purpose, the bottom cover 1011 may have a receiving part 1012 formed in a box shape a top surface of which is opened, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The bottom cover 1011 may be coupled to a top cover, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The bottom cover 1011 may be formed of a metal material or resin material, and may be manufactured by using a process such as a press molding or an injection molding. Also, the bottom cover 1011 may include metallic or nonmetallic material having a high thermal conductivity, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The display panel 1061 is, for example, an LCD panel, and includes first and second transparent substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates. A polarizing plate may be attached on at least one surface of the display panel 1061, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The display panel 1061 displays information by using light passing through the optical sheet 1051. The display apparatus 1000 may be applied to a variety of mobile terminals, monitors for notebook computers, monitors for lap-top computers, televisions, etc.

The optical sheet 1051 is disposed between the display panel 1061 and the light guide plate 1041, and includes at least one transparent sheet. The optical sheet 1051 may include, for example, at least one of a diffusion sheet, a horizontal and/or vertical prism sheet, and a brightness reinforcing sheet. The diffusion sheet diffuses incident light, the horizontal and/or vertical prism sheet focuses incident light on a display region, and the brightness reinforcing sheet enhances the brightness by reusing lost light. Also, a protective sheet may be disposed on the display panel 1061, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Herein, the display apparatus 1000 may include the light guide plate 1041, and the optical sheet 1051 as optical members positioned on a light path of the light emitting module 1031, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a display apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11, the display apparatus 1100 includes a bottom cover 1152, a board 1120 on which the light emitting device packages 200 disclosed above are arrayed, an optical member 1154, and a display panel 1155.

The board 1120 and the light emitting device package 200 may be defined as a light emitting module 1160. The bottom cover 1152, the at least one light emitting module 1160, and the optical member 154 may be defined as a light unit 1150.

The bottom cover 1152 may be provided with a receiving part 1153, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Herein, the optical member 1154 may include at least one of a lens, a light guide plate, a diffusion sheet, a horizontal and vertical prism sheet, and a brightness reinforcing sheet. The light guide plate may be formed of polycarbonate (PC) or poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), and may be removed. The diffusion sheet diffuses incident light, the horizontal and vertical prism sheet focuses incident light on a display region, and the brightness reinforcing sheet enhances the brightness by reusing lost light.

The optical member 1154 is disposed on the light emitting module 1160. The optical member 1154 transforms light emitted from the light emitting module 1160 to planar light, and performs diffusion, light focusing, and the like.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a lighting unit according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 12, the lighting unit 1500 may include a case 1510, a light emitting module 1530 including in the case 1510, and a connection terminal 1520 including in the case 1510 and supplied with an electric power from an external power supply.

The case 1510 may be preferably formed of a material having good heat shielding characteristics, for example, a metal material or a resin material.

The light emitting module 1530 may include a board 1532, and at least one light emitting device package 200 according to the embodiments mounted on the board 1532. The light emitting device package 200 may include a plurality of light emitting device packages which are arrayed apart by a predetermined distance from one another in a matrix configuration.

The board 1532 may be an insulator substrate on which a circuit pattern is printed, and may include, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB), a metal core PCB, a flexible PCB, a ceramic PCB, an FR-4 substrate, etc.

Also, the board 1532 may be formed of a material to efficiently reflect light, and a surface thereof may be formed in a color capable of efficiently reflecting light, for example, white color, or silver color.

The at least one light emitting device packages 200 may be mounted on the board 1532. Each of the light emitting device packages 200 may include at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip. The LED chip may include a color LED emitting red, green, blue or white light, and a UV LED emitting ultraviolet (UV).

The light emitting module 1530 may have a combination of various light emitting device packages so as to obtain desired color and luminance. For example, the light emitting module 1530 may have a combination of a white LED, a red LED, and a green LED so as to obtain a high color rendering index (CRI).

The connection terminal 1520 may be electrically connected to the light emitting module 1530 to supply power. The connection terminal 1520 may be screwed and coupled to an external power in a socket type, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the connection terminal 1520 may be made in a pin type and inserted into an external power, or may be connected to the external power through a power line.

In the light emitting device according to the embodiments, the active layer having a new structure may be provided to improve the inner quantum efficiency of the active layer. Since the holes injected into the active layer is maximally dispersed into the well layers different from each other, the recombination between the holes and electrons may be increased to improve the intensity of light. Thus, a degree of color purity of light emitted from the active layer may be improved. Also, the intensity of light may be improved. According to the embodiments, the light emitting device and the light emitting device package including the light emitting device may be improved in reliability.

Features, features, structures and effects described in the above embodiments are incorporated into at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, but are not limited to only one embodiment. Moreover, features, structures, and effects exemplified in one embodiment can easily be combined and modified for another embodiment by those skilled in the art. Therefore, these combinations and modifications should be construed as falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A light emitting device comprising:

a first conductive type semiconductor layer;

a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer; and

an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers,

wherein the plurality of barrier layers comprise: a first barrier layer which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the first barrier layer having a first band gap; a second barrier layer adjacent to the first barrier; and at least one third barrier layer between the second barrier layer and the first conductive type semiconductor layer,

the plurality of well layers comprise: a first well layer between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, the first well layer having a third band gap; and a second well layer between the second barrier layer and the at least one third barrier layer, the second well layer having a second band gap,

the first well layer has a thickness thinner than that of the second well layer; and

the third band gap is different from the first band gap.

2. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the third band gap is wider than the second band gap.

3. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the first well layer has a depth lower than that of the second well layer.

4. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of barrier layers have the same thickness as each other.

5. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the second barrier layer has a thickness thinner than that of each of the first barrier layer and the at least one third barrier layer.

6. The light emitting device according to claim 1, comprising a second clad layer between the first barrier layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the second clad layer having a band gap wider than the first band gap.

7. The light emitting device according to claim 4, wherein the first well layer has a thickness corresponding to a range from about 30% to about 60% of that of the second well layer.

8. The light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein a thickness difference between the second well layer and the second barrier layer ranges from about 2 nm to about 3 nm, and the first well layer has a thickness of about 1 nm to about 2 nm.

9. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the first well layer has an indium content less than that of the second well layer and a compositional formula of InxGa1-xN (0.07<x<0.08).

10. The light emitting device according to claim 5, wherein the second barrier layer has a thickness ranging from about 3 nm to about 4 nm.

11. A light emitting device comprising:

a first conductive type semiconductor layer;

a second conductive type semiconductor layer; and

an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers,

wherein each of the plurality of barrier layers has a first band gap,

the plurality of well layers comprises: a first well layer which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the first well layer having a third band gap; and a plurality of well layers adjacent to the first conductive type semiconductor layer than the first well layer, the plurality of well each having a second band gap,

the first well layer has a thickness thinner than that of the second well layer, and

the third band gap is disposed between the first band gap and the second band gap.

12. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of well layers comprise an InGaN-based semiconductor, and each of the plurality of barrier layers comprises a semiconductor having a compositional formula of InxAlyGa1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦x+y≦1).

13. The light emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the first conductive type semiconductor layer comprises an n-type dopant, and the second conductive type semiconductor layer comprises a p-type dopant.

14. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the first well layer has a depth lower than that of the second well layer.

15. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of barrier layers have the same thickness as each other.

16. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of barrier layers comprise: a first barrier layer which is the nearest to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the first barrier layer having the first band gap; a second barrier layer adjacent to the first barrier layer; and at least one third barrier layer between the second barrier layer and the first conductive type semiconductor layer, wherein the second barrier layer has a thickness thinner than that of each of the first barrier layer and the at least one third barrier layer.

17. The light emitting device according to claim 16, comprising a second clad layer between the first barrier layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the second clad layer having a band gap wider than the first band gap.

18. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the first well layer has a thickness corresponding to a range from about 30% to about 60% of that of the second well layer.

19. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the active layer has a peak wavelength of about 420 nm to about 450 nm.

20. A light emitting device comprising:

a first conductive type semiconductor layer;

a second conductive type semiconductor layer; and

an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, the active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and a plurality of barrier layers,

wherein each of the plurality of barrier layers has a first band gap,

the plurality of well layers comprises: a first well layer having a third band gap; and anyone second well layer having a third band gap narrower than the first band gap and wider than the second band gap, and

the anyone second well layer is disposed more close to the second conductive type semiconductor layer.